TILLSONBURG (March 13, 1998) - Fp Perth representative Rob Smink was personally on hand to witness federal Health Minister Allan Rock kick off the re-birth of Canada's hemp industry, an industry which was banned along with marijuana in 1938.

More than 100 people attended the event, leaving Smink with only two pieces of Freedom Party literature remaining, as attendees eagerly scooped up the information offered. Among the pieces distributed were copies of Ray Monteith's essay, 'Drugs Should Be Legalized,' Fp's 'Prohibition Is A Crime,' and educational literature produced by other organizations.

"I was received very well," Smink noted --- so much so that he was even provided with a table to display the literature he brought. A complete package of information was given to Rock's personal assistant.

"(Hemp) is an absolutely remarkable product that, for 60 years, we have not been able to use in this country because of an outdated philosophy," Rock told the crowd. "Thank goodness those days are gone."

Since hemp was banned as part of the same "philosophy" that prohibits marijuana, Rock's suggestion that this "philosophy" is outdated is wishful thinking indeed, given the continued prohibition of the latter. Even with respect to hemp, according to his department's own news release, "Health Canada will use licences, permits, and authorizations to control activities. This level of control is necessary to prevent diversion of Cannabis to the illicit drug market." Among the regulations is the continued prohibition of the cultivation of hemp (which has no psychoactive qualities!) within one kilometer of any school grounds or any other public place frequented by persons under 18. The stage already appears to be set for future regulations which may prove to be more irrational and ineffective than prohibition.

Meanwhile, as hemp growers have managed to partially free themselves from Rock's "outdated philosophy," multiple sclerosis sufferer Lynn Harichy who uses marijuana for medical purposes is still a victim of that philosophy, and she appealed to Rock to allow her the same degree of freedom.

"I told her we are taking her position very seriously," Rock said.

Rock credited rural members of Parliament with making him aware of the value of hemp, though in actual fact, it was not until Fp founding member Marc Emery challenged Canada's censorship laws forbidding the dissemination of such information (in 1992) that it was even possible to legally discuss the issue here. (See Freedom Flyer, December 1992 for background on the hemp story.)

"Ten thousand acres of hemp will produce the same amount of paper as 20 years' growth of trees on 40,000 acres," Rock said. "It's unbelievable!" What's really unbelievable is that Canadians are still being treated as criminals for using cannabis as a recreational drug. Worse, judging by federally legislated trends, it looks like tobacco users may soon find themselves sharing a similar fate.

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